AMASE Newsletter, June 2026

Jun 07, 2026 9:40 pm

Dear AMASE members,


Welcome to the June newsletter. Last month we saw some record-breaking hot weather and whilst some of us thrive with heat, others do not and we hope that everyone was able to remain comfortable. 


June 18th is Autistic Pride Day and in this newsletter we have included some events to be held on this date that look really good. Autistic Pride to us is about acceptance and that we should not be made to feel ashamed of who we are or that our individual differences mean that we are in any way lesser. A number of autistic organisations are planning Autistic Pride Picnics this month and we now have a date for the AMASE Edinburgh Autistic Pride Picnic - Saturday 8th August. This month we are also excited to be piloting a new Book Club on Friday 19th August. Details of all these are below, together with some other items we think will be of interest to you!


Best wishes,

Fiona, Leo, Gideon, Fergus, Elly, Pete and Luis.



  1. My Autism Story 21, 2026-06-22, 7-8pm (AMASE members only)
  2. AMASE body-doubling session, 2026-06-17, 7-8:30pm (AMASE members only)
  3. AMASE Book Club poll and pilot, 2026-06-19, 7-8:30pm (AMASE members only)
  4. Regular AMASE Bouldering Trips – Alien Bloc – 13th and 27th June, 11:30-2pm
  5. AMASE Edinburgh Autistic Pride Picnic, 2026-08-08, 2-5pm
  6. Autistic Pride Day various events, 2026-06-18
  7. Into Work free webinars for autistic people around employment, various dates
  8. Number 6 Autism One Stop Shop June Calendar
  9. EHRC Code of Practice following Supreme Court’s interpretation of sex in the Equality Act
  10. LGBTQ+ Pride Edinburgh, 20-06-26
  11. Penguin Pebbling, by Helen Edgar of Autistic Realms



AMASE events:

1.  My Autism Story 21, 2026-06-22, 7-8pm (AMASE members only)

My Autism Story is where an AMASE member shares something about their autistic journey. We are very pleased to welcome Kay to our 21st My Autism Story event. Kay will be speaking about their story on 22nd June at 7-8pm at. You can sign up to find out more about how this event will work and sign up to attend here: https://luma.com/fjq6k0w6 


If you may be interested in speaking about your story at some point, do get in touch by emailing [email protected]



2. AMASE body-doubling session, 2026-06-17, 7-8:30pm (AMASE members only)

Our next body-doubling session is on Wednesday 17th June, 7-8:30pm on Zoom. Members have been finding these a useful way to get tasks done, whether the admin that keeps getting put off, responding to messages or a house-hold chore.


Cameras can be on or off during the session, and there is no need to be online at your device for the whole time. Come and experience how body-doubling can work for you. You can see more information on how these sessions run and sign up if you wish to attend here: https://luma.com/emcnuws2 



3. AMASE Book Club poll and pilot, 2026-06-19, 7-8:30pm (AMASE members only)

​​We are excited to be holding our first AMASE Book Club pilot event on Friday 19th June, 7-8:30pm GMT, over Zoom for AMASE members. We will be discussing Robert Chapman’s Empire of Normality: Neurodiversity and Capitalism. 

You can see more information on the Book Club Pilot Event, and sign up if you are interested in attending here: https://luma.com/ulmb8co8 


Please also consider completing this poll to  help us with future AMASE Book Club events https://forms.gle/aMvwMjxKNvbBMEW37 . Is there a book or other reading material would you like to feature? We’re open to fiction, academic writing, graphic novels, articles, poetry...pretty much anything you can think of!  We are also looking for future co-hosts: two AMASE members to run an event in a similar way that Mark and Mathew are hosting our pilot event. 



4. Regular AMASE Bouldering Trips – Alien Bloc, 13th and 27th June

We are continuing fortnightly informal bouldering sessions at Alien Bloc, in Canonmills held on Saturdays at11:30-2pm. No experience required. Entry is £13 (plus £3.50 shoe hire if needed). 


If you're thinking of coming, do let us know by signing up on Luma here for 13th June https://luma.com/646a6gud, and here for 27th June: https://luma.com/rzijopm5 



5. AMASE Edinburgh Autistic Pride Picnic, 2026-08-08, 2-5pm

We are pleased to announce that we will be holding our seventh Edinburgh Autistic Pride Picnic on Saturday 8th August, 2-5pm to celebrate autistic identity and the autistic community. 


This is an opportunity to spend time with autistic people, relax outside and eat picnic food. The event is open to all, including non-autistic people, although it will be an autistic space. It will be held in the usual place in the Meadows, at the Prince Albert Victor Sundial. Save the date for now and we will provide more information in our July newsletter.


Our friends ARGH Scotland, Aurora Autistic Consulting and AVATAR Borders are also hosting Autistic Pride Picnics in the coming weeks and you can find out additional information about these here:




Other events:


6. Autistic Pride Day various events, 2026-06-18

Autistic Pride Day is on 18th June this year. We thought we would share some autistic-led events being held on that date that we think look really good. All these events are free:




7. Into Work free autistic-led webinars for autistic people around employment, various dates

Into Work have just released this year’s series of its themed weekly Webinars around employment for autistic people (including self-identified) in Scotland looking for work or a better experience of work. These are part of Into Work’s Aut Support Works! programme that has been developed by and are delivered by autistic people (including our Chair, Fiona Clarke). 


These sessions are free and funded by the Scottish Government, through Inspiring Scotland. For more information and to sign up please go to: https://intowork.org.uk/events/ 



8. Number 6 Autism One Stop Shop June Calendar

The Number 6 One Stop Shop June calendar listing groups and activities they will be running this month can be seen here:

https://autisminitiatives.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/05/June-Calendar-2026.pdf



Other:


9. EHRC Code of Practice following Supreme Courts interpretation of sex in the Equality Act

AMASE stands in solidarity with trans people following the revised Code of Practice issued by the Equalities and Human Rights Commission. This advises services and businesses on the interpretation of sex in the Equality Act 2010, following the Supreme Court’s judgement last year. The guidance - whilst not yet official - seeks to codify the limitations of trans people to access single-sex spaces that align with their gender, in recommending that instead a third space should be provided. There are widespread implications which further excludes trans, non-binary and intersex people and detracts from human rights.


We know that there is considerable cross-over between trans and autistic people and Fergus Murray wrote a helpful thread on Blue Sky of things that people who care about trans rights could do to understand more and help: https://tbsky.app/profile/oolong.co.uk/post/3mmwifuvfv22s  



10. LGBTQ+ Pride Edinburgh, 20-06-2026

Saturday 20th of June is the day of Edinburgh’s LGBTQ+ Pride. Assuming that the weather permits, some of us are planning to gather on the Meadows after the march. Keep an eye out on the Discord server for updates and discussion of this as the date approaches.



11. Penguin Pebbling, by Helen Edgar of Autistic Realms

We wanted to share about the game of Penguin Pebbling, created by Helen Edgar, Autistic Realms, in collaboration with Stimpunks. Penguins pass pebbles to show love and to form a connection. Many neurodivergent people also pass ‘penguin pebbles‘ to each other: This may be a twig picked up on a walk or a meme you know someone will love and share to show you care.


This card-based game is built around the distinctive ways autistic people show care, build connection, and create belonging: Infodumping, Parallel Play, Support Swapping, Penguin Pebbling, and Deep Pressure (The Five Autistic Love Locutions). There are no winners or pressure to perform and you can play on your own terms, with others or by yourself as a reflective tool.


To find out more, play the game online or download the printable card deck go to:

https://autisticrealms.com/penguin-pebbling-a-game-of-creating-belonging-building-connection-and-understanding-autistic-identity/ 



Previous AMASE newsletters can be viewed here: https://sendfox.com/amase/feed 


To automatically receive updates about AMASE Events published on Luma follow this link: https://luma.com/amase 

AMASE is a volunteer run organisation and currently receives no funding. If you feel financially able to do so, please consider making a small donation to AMASE via PayPal Donate. Thank you so much to the supporter who is raising funds for AMASE with Kiltwalk and for the donations we have received to date. 



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